Author Archive: vballhall

Paula Astramowicz Smalac

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Paula attended Platt High School in Meriden from 1975-79 during the infancy of Title IX and the growth of women’s athletics. A versatile athlete, she played volleyball, basketball and softball.  When Paula entered Platt as a freshman, volleyball had only been a varsity sport for three years.  The team finished 6-8 that year, but just three year later it would finish 15-2 and be runner-up in the CIAC Class M State finals.  Paula was a big part of that success.  A dedicated and talented athlete, she worked to develop and improve. She was a four-year varsity starter in volleyball, earning four letters and serving as co-captain her senior year. She was also an All-League team selection her sophomore, junior and senior years (there were not All-State teams in the 70’s).   Paula did not just excel in volleyball; she was a four-year varsity starter in basketball and softball as well.  She earned letters in each of these sports for four years. She has the distinction of being the first athlete at Platt to earn twelve varsity letters. Paula was also captain of the basketball and softball teams and was an All-League selection for both.

Paula received a volleyball scholarship to the University of Connecticut, no small feat since scholarships for women were rare in 1979.  She played there for three years and earned three more varsity letters. Since graduating college, Paula has continued her involvement with volleyball, playing on USVBA teams, beach doubles, and coaching.  Paula started coaching at Middletown High School in 1984, but left after one season to return to Platt to replace her former coach, Denise Amiot.  She continued to keep the winning tradition alive. In her four years there, Platt won three CIAC Class M State Championships (1985, ’86 and ’88) and was runner up in 1987.

Today Paula resides in Cheshire with her husband Michael and her two children, Brendan (11) and Lindsay (8).

Marjorie R. Dolan

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Marge’s interest in sports began when she was a young girl. It started with her playing with her siblings, then competing at the high school level and then in college.  She attended Southern Connecticut State College from 1970-74, where she majored in Physical Education and played volleyball, basketball and softball.  In 1976, marge was hired as a physical education teacher and as head volleyball coach at North Haven High School.  Her enthusiasm, competitiveness and extensive knowledge contributed to her success as a coach.  She produced teams that were aggressive, disciplined and highly motivated.  North Haven qualified for post-season play regularly.  In 1979, just three years after Marge took over at North Haven, they not only qualified for the state tournament, they won the Class M State Championship.  Then in 1980, they repeated their success and won a second championship.

Marge also coached basketball and softball at North Haven and she was instrumental in establishing the North Haven High School Sports Hall of Fame.  Many of the athletes Marge coached continued to play volleyball in college and a few have become coaches.

Over the years, Marge has given a lot of her time to volleyball.  She has served on the CIAC volleyball committee for the last 28 years and she has be the CIAC State Volleyball Tournament director for the last eight.  She also served as Region I representative to the National Federation of High Schools’ Volleyball Rules Committee in the late 80’s.

Marge has been honored for her many contributions to sports and the athletes that play them.  In 1993, she was inducted into the Northeast Agenda Women’s Sports Hall of Fame for her contributions to the promotion of women in sports.

Today Marge is still serving the students and athletes at North Haven High School where she has been the Director of Athletics since 1993.

 

 

Lisa M. Barbaro

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Lisa’s remarkable career began in 1993 at the Morgan School in Clinton. She was a three-sport athlete, playing volleyball, basketball and softball; she was outstanding in all three. During her four years there, she left an amazing legacy. Lisa was a four-year starter on the volleyball team and served as captain. In those years, her team amassed an 85-3 record, finished 22-0 in 1995 (an undefeated season for the first time in school history), won three conference championships and won the CIAC Class S State Championship four years in a row. Lisa’s contribution to her team’s success is evident in her numerous awards.  She was 2nd team All-Conference in 1994, 1st team All-Conference in ’95 and ’96. , All-Middlesex County in ’94, ’95, ’96, All-Area 1994, ’95, ’96 and 2nd team All-State in 1996.  As if this were not enough, Lisa was equally successful in her other two sports. She was captain of the basketball and softball teams as well, and she was selected to the All-Conference, All-Middlesex County, All-Area and All-State teams in BOTH of these sports. In her junior year, all three of her teams won state titles. This is believed to be a state record for the most consecutive state titles won in one year for a single high school girl’s athletic program. To cap off her career, Lisa was chosen the New Haven Register Connecticut Female Athlete of the Year in 1996, an honor she would receive again in 1997.

After graduating high school, Lisa attended Coker College in South Carolina and Southern Connecticut State University. She has continued to share her love of sports and competition by working at numerous volleyball clinics and camps, and through coaching. Lisa was head volleyball coach at Branford High School for two years, where she developed a more skilled, unified and successful program.  In 2004 she was named head women’s volleyball coach and softball coach at her alma mater, SCSU.  Her drive, dedication and disciplined coaching style have already helped to improve these programs.

Edgar D. Bengermino

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It all started in 1968. Ed was helping Phil LeBrock teach “power” volleyball to the Physical Education majors at the University of Bridgeport and it turned out to be the beginning of a coaching career that would span over two decades. When Andrew Warde High School in Fairfield added varsity girls’ volleyball in 1974, Ed became the first head coach. This was a bit unusual because back then there were not many men coaching girls’ high school teams. He used his experience, enthusiasm and dedication to build Warde into one of the top programs in the state. His teams consistently qualified for post-season play both in the FCIAC and in the state tournament.

At Warde and then Fairfield High School, Ed and his teams compiled some impressive statistics. There were numerous FCIAC division championships, five FCIAC league championships and six times they were FCIAC league runner-up. Ed’s teams qualified for the state tournament every year including four trips to the CIAC Class LL finals; unfortunately, the top prize eluded them all four times. Ed has received much recognition in his coaching career. To name just a few, he was selected as the CAIC Volleyball Coach of the Year in 1978, he was the Region II Coach of the Year three times and represented our region at the National High School Coach of the Year Awards.

During Ed’s 25-year career he has given much more to the sport than just his coaching. He served on the volleyball state committee from 1980-86. Ed was also instrumental in gaining acceptance for boys’ volleyball in the state. He wrote many letters and appealed to the athletic directors and coaches, encouraging them to add this sport for boys. He saw his hard work come to fruition when, after several years as a club sport, enough schools added boys’ volleyball for it to gain recognition by the CIAC as a full varsity sport. Ed is also a founding member of the Connecticut Women’s Scholastic Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame.

Sheena Carpenter

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Sheena began her volleyball career at Westhill High School, where she played from 1978-1981 for Coach Winnie Hamilton.  During the 1980 season, the Vikings won the CIAC State Championship and finished with a perfect 20-0 record.  Sheena attended Eastern Connecticut State University and continued her exemplary volleyball career.  An outstanding hitter during high school and her first year of college, an injury to the team’s setter during her sophomore year changed that.  Eastern coach Floretta “Pinky” Crabtree saw her ability and decided Sheena would fill the slot.  This changing role was a challenge but she found it exciting and was equal to the task.  During her four seasons at Eastern, the team qualified for the NCAA playoffs three times.

Sheena has continued her involvement with volleyball since graduating.  She coached at Quinnipiac College and at Wilbur Cross High School and has worked at numerous camps.  In working with female athletes she has been proud to pass on the attitude that was instilled in her by her high school coach Winnie Hamilton, “that with hard work and confidence, they can achieve anything.”

Sheena is a teacher at Dolan Middle School in Stamford.  She now devotes her time parenting her 8-year-old son Andre.

Sally Maher

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Sally began playing volleyball at North Haven High School in 1978 for Coach Marge Dolan.  She had great enthusiasm and exceptional athletic ability and she worked hard to learn this new sport.  Her hard work paid off. Sally and her teammates won back to back state championships in 1979 and 1980.  As a junior she was selected to the All-Housatonic and All-State teams, and she repeated this accomplishment her senior year.  She also received numerous team awards.  Sally was also an outstanding basketball and softball player in high school.

After graduation Sally attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and she continued her volleyball career playing for Coach Elaine Sortino.  In 1984 her team won the ECAC Championship.  Sally was captain her junior and senior years and was team MVP her senior year.  Sally decided to share her knowledge and talents by becoming a coach.  In 1988 she coached JV volleyball at North Haven.  The next year she took over the head coaching position at Lyman Hall which she held until 1999.  She has worked at several volleyball camps and she continues to play on the CT Fossil Team.  Sally is a physical education teacher at North Haven High School.

Melissa Roy

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Missy’s volleyball career began in 1990 at Glastonbury High School.  She loved the game and with dedication and hard work became an outstanding player and team leader.  As a junior Missy received her team’s Coach’s award and was selected to the All-Conference team.  She was also an All-State second team selection.  In her senior year Missy was captain and the team’s Most Valuable Player.  She was again selected for All-Conference and All-State honors.  That year Glastonbury won the CIAC Class L State Championship and Missy was the tournament’s MVP.  She was also a Hartwell Award recipient.

After graduation Missy continued her volleyball career at Stetson University where she was a 4-year varsity starter.  She was team captain her senior year and team MVP.  She holds numerous records at Stetson, received the Melching Leadership Award, broke over 1000 kills and digs in a career and was named to the Academic All-Conference team for 3 years.  Even after graduating college Missy did not leave volleyball behind, she turned to coaching.  She began coaching in Florida and then returned to her alma mater Glastonbury High School where she coached the freshmen team for 3 years and has now taken over the varsity squad.

Mark J. Sullivan

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Mark’s first involvement with volleyball was as a player in 1969. His love of the game increased and he soon joined Westerly YMCA, which afforded him more playing time and play at a more competitive level.  Mark soon decided he wanted to experience that other part of the game, the coaching part. In 1979 he started the varsity volleyball program at Robert E. Fitch High School in Groton. Using his experience as a player, his hard work ethic, and his dedication, he built one of the most successful volleyball programs in the state.  During his 12 years as head coach, Mark has established quite a record. His teams have qualified for the CIAC State Tournament every year. He has coached four All-State players including two sisters and numerous All-league players.

He has received honors over the years including the New London Day Coach of the Year in 1990 and Connecticut High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1991.

Mark retired from coaching in 1990 and lives in Mystic with his wife Margaret.

Karen B. Zealor

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Karen’s involvement with volleyball began in 1974 at Maloney High School in Meriden.  Under the watchful eye of Coach Sandy Piantek, she and her teammates won 3 state championships, were runners up once, and were undefeated during the regular season 4 years in a row. Karen attended the University of Connecticut and as a freshman walk-on, she not only got herself a starting varsity position, she also got a scholarship.

Karen began officiating in 1981.  With her knowledge of the game and confident demeanor she was always in demand.  During the 15 years of her career she has officiated countless high school and college games statewide.  Karen has also been selected to referee at the Nutmeg Games, the Connecticut Special Olympics World Games.  She is a member of the Connecticut Board of Volleyball Officials and has served as both secretary and vice president.  Karen has also shared her expertise by serving on the committee to train and evaluate officials.

Today Karen lives in Wallingford with her 2 children Zachary and Rachel.

Cynthia Hitchcock

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Cindy is one of the pioneers of girls’ athletics in this area.

She started her coaching career in 1970 at Cheshire High School where she coached both volleyball and basketball.  She also coached the girls’ track team from 1973-1981.  Cindy’s intensity and competitive attitude helped build Cheshire into one of the most successful athletic programs in the state. During Cindy’s career her volleyball teams compiled an impressive record including 3 state championships, 7 Housatonic League championships and an amazing 57 game winning streak.  Many of the athletes under Cindy’s guidance received All-League and All-State honors and many went on to play in college.

At the helm of the basketball team for twenty years, Cindy’s teams were very successful.  Her leadership gained her many honors including being named Coach of the Year by the Tap Off Club in 1982 and being inducted into the Tap Off Club Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.

Today Cindy is retired from teaching and coaching, but she is embarking on a new career- as a volleyball official!  She also spends time with her son Bruce, daughter-in-law Susan and grandsons Bruce and Blake.